Wrappable protective sleeve with closure and locating feature and methods of construction and use thereof

ABSTRACT

A wrappable protective sleeve for providing protection to at least one elongate member contained therein and methods of construction and use thereof are provided. The sleeve includes a flexible textile wall having opposite inner and outer faces bounded by opposite edges and opposite ends. The opposite edges extend generally parallel to one another between the opposite ends. A pair of adhesive layers is bonded to the inner face, with each of the adhesive layers being spaced from one another. The adhesive layers extend between the opposite ends adjacent the opposite edges. Further, a release paper is releasably adhered to the pair of adhesive layers for subsequent removal and use of the sleeve.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This divisional application claims priority to U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/952,441, filed Jul. 26, 2013, and U.S. Divisional patentapplication Ser. No. 16/708,044, filed Dec. 9, 2019, both of which areincorporated herein by way of reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field

This invention relates generally to protective sleeves for providingprotection to elongate members contained therein, and more particularlyto wrappable protective sleeves and to their methods of construction anduse.

2. Related Art

Wrappable protective sleeves for providing protection to a straightelongate member contained therein are known. Typically, wrappableprotective sleeves are fixed about the elongate member by a separatefastening feature, such as with tape or tie wraps wrappedcircumferentially about the sleeve wall. Although tape and tie wrapsdevices can prove effective, they come at a cost by having to have themin inventory, and in addition, further require labor expense and timefor application. Further, particularly with tape, it can become bulkyand relatively heavy, and further yet, subsequent removal, such as maybe necessary to service the elongate member, can prove laborious.

In addition to providing protection about straight elongate members, itis also know to wrap a complex protective sleeve or tape about aT-shaped union of elongate members to provide protection about theT-shape union. Unfortunately, the complex protective sleeves, generallyhaving specialized T-shaped configurations themselves to allow them tobe wrapped conformingly about the T-shaped union, are expensive inmanufacture, and further, can require a certain degree of expertise andexperience to apply. As for use of tape, the same issues discussedpreviously, namely, inventory costs and laborious application andremoval, hold true to an even increased degree given the complexity ofhaving to wrap the tape about a T-shape configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a wrappable protectivesleeve for providing protection to at least one elongate membercontained therein is provided. The sleeve includes a flexible textilewall having opposite inner and outer faces bounded by opposite edges andopposite ends. The opposite edges extend generally parallel to oneanother between the opposite ends. A pair of adhesive layers is bondedto the inner face in spaced relation from one another. The adhesivelayers extend between the opposite ends adjacent the opposite edges.Further, a release paper is releasably adhered to the pair of adhesivelayers.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the opposite edgesof the sleeve wall are spaced from one another along a width of the walland the release paper has a width less than the width of the wall.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, each of the adhesivelayers has a width and the width of the release paper is substantiallyequal to the combined widths of the adhesive layers.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the wall has atubular configuration with the release paper adhered to the pair ofadhesive layers.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, one adhesive layerfrom the pair of adhesive layers is adapted to be adhered to an outersurface of the at least one elongate member and the other adhesive layerof the pair of adhesive layers is adapted to be adhered to the outerface of the wall.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, each of the pair ofadhesive layers is adapted to be adhered to a common elongate member andeach of the pair of adhesive layers is adapted to be adhered to itself.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the wrappableprotective sleeve is adapted to be wrapped about a T-shaped union of aplurality of elongate members.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the wall is formedof interlaced yarn.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the wall is formedof a nonwoven material.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method ofprotecting at least a portion of at least one elongate member isprovided. The method includes providing a flexible textile wall havingopposite inner and outer faces bounded by opposite edges and oppositeends with a pair of adhesive layers bonded to the inner face in spacedrelation from one another with a single release paper being releasablyadhered to the pair of adhesive layers. Further, removing the singlerelease paper from the pair of adhesive layers and adhering at least oneof the adhesive layers to at least one elongate member to be protected.Then, wrapping the wall about the portion of the at least one elongatemember to be protected and adhering at least one of the adhesive layersto at least one of the outer face of the wall or to itself to fix thewall in its wrapped configuration about the portion of the at least oneelongate member to be protected.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method canfurther include adhering one of the adhesive layers to a single elongatemember to be protected and then wrapping the wall about the elongatemember and bringing the opposite edges into overlapping relation withone another and adhering the other of the adhesive layers to the outerface of the wall.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method canfurther include providing a plurality of elongate members having agenerally T-shaped union and adhering a portion of the adhesive layersto a common one of the plurality of elongate members and then wrappingthe wall about the T-shaped union and adhering a portion of eachadhesive layer to itself.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method canfurther include providing the wall being formed from interlaced yarn.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method canfurther include providing the wall being formed from a nonwovenmaterial.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method ofconstructing a wrappable protective sleeve is provided. The methodincludes forming a flexible textile wall having opposite inner and outerfaces bounded by opposite edges and opposite ends. Then, bonding a pairof adhesive layers to the inner face in spaced relation from one anotheradjacent the opposite edges, and further, bonding a single release paperto the wall via the pair of adhesive layers.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method ofconstruction can further include bonding the pair of adhesive layers tothe single release paper prior to bonding the bonding the pair ofadhesive layers to the inner face of the wall.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method ofconstruction can further include wrapping the wall into a tubularconfiguration and then bonding the single release paper to the wall toreleasably maintain the wall in its tubular configuration.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method ofconstruction can further include wrapping the wall into the tubularconfiguration with the inner face facing radially outwardly.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method ofconstruction can further include forming the wall from interlaced yarn.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method ofconstruction can further include forming the wall from a nonwovenmaterial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily appreciated when considered inconnection with the following detailed description of presentlypreferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims and accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sleeve constructed in accordance withone aspect of the invention shown wrapped about an elongate member to beprotected by the sleeve;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 shown in a “asmanufactured”, pre-use state;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sleeve of FIG. 1 shown in an unwrapped,flattened state;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the sleeve of FIG. 3 shown unwrapped with aT-shaped union of a pair of elongate members to be protected disposedthereon; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the sleeve of FIG. 5 shown wrapped and fixedabout the T-shaped union of the pair of elongate members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring in more detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a wrappabletextile sleeve 10 constructed in accordance with one aspect of theinvention shown wrapped about an elongate member 12 to be protected,such as a wire harness or pipe, by way of example and withoutlimitation. The textile sleeve 10 has a wall 14 sized to be wrappedcircumferentially about the elongate member 12 to be protected such thatopposite, lengthwise extending edges 16, 18, which extend generallyparallel to one another and generally parallel to a central longitudinalaxis 20 of the sleeve 10 between opposite ends 22, 24, are brought intooverlapping, fixed relation with one another. In addition to theopposite edges 16, 18 of the wall 14 being fixed in a circumferentiallywrapped configuration, thereby providing the desired protection to theelongate member 12 about the entire circumference of the elongate member12, the wall 14, as discussed further below, is fixed to the elongatemember 12 to prevent inadvertent movement of the sleeve 10 relative tothe elongate member 12. Accordingly, the sleeve 12 is assured ofremaining in its intended protective position about the elongate member12.

The textile wall 14, as schematically shown in the Figures, can beformed by interlacing yarn or yarns with one another, includingmonofilament and/or multifilament yarn, wherein the interlacing can beperformed to form a woven, knitted, or braided structure. In addition tointerlacing yarn or yarns, the wall 14 can also be formed as a nonwovenstructure. It is to be understood that nonwoven structures are formedfrom a web of material including intertwined, relatively short fibersvia a wet or dry process. The fibers can be provided as organic fibers,such as from jute, kenaf, hemp, or any other suitable cellulosic fibrousmaterial, and also from any suitable recycled materials and/or wastestream materials and/or from inorganic fibers, including any type ofpolymeric materials, including heat-meltable material, for example, as alow temperature melt polymeric material, such as fibers of polyethylene,PET or Nylon. It should be recognized that other low melt polymericmaterials could be used, such as thermoplastic bi-component fibers whoseouter sheath, such as polypropylene, for example, melts when heatedabove its melting point.

Upon wrapping the wall 14 about the elongate member 12, the oppositeedges 16, 18 of the wall 14 are fixed in the circumferentially wrapped“cigarette” configuration via a first adhesive layer 26 to provide thedesired protection to the elongate member 12 about the entirecircumference of the elongate member 12 and the wall 14 is fixed to theelongate member 12 via a second adhesive layer 28 to prevent inadvertentmovement of the sleeve 10 relative to the elongate member 12. The firstand second adhesive layers 26, 28 forms a pair of adhesive layers bondedto an inner face 30 of the wall 14 in spaced relation from one another,while an outer surface 32 of the wall 14, as manufactured, remains freeof any adhesive or other fastening mechanism. The adhesive layers 26, 28extend along the opposite edges 16, 18, shown as being immediatelyadjacent the opposite edges 16, 18, between the opposite ends 22, 24,wherein the adhesive layers 26, 28 are also shown as extending from oneend 22 to the opposite end 24. With the adhesive layers 26, 28 beinglaterally spaced from one another, an intermediate portion 34 of theinner surface 30 is free of any adhesive. Accordingly, the amount ofadhesive used in the construction of the wall 14 is minimized, and issignificantly less than that if the entire inner surface 30 were coveredwith adhesive, and thus, the cost of the adhesive layers is greatlyreduced from that if the entire inner surface 30 were covered withadhesive.

In construction of the sleeve 10, to prevent contamination of theadhesive layers 26, 28 and to preserve the adhesive layers 26, 28 forfuture use, a release paper 36 (FIG. 3) is releasably adhered to thepair of adhesive layers 26, 28. To minimized the amount of release papernecessary, and to reduce the envelope of the sleeve 10 for shipping andstorage, the wall 14 is wrapped or folded to evert the wall 14 such thatthe inner surface 30 faces radially outwardly and the outer surface 32faces radially inwardly. The opposite edges 16, 18 are brought intoabutting or substantially abutting relation with one another such theadhesive layers 26, 28 are immediately adjacent one another. With theadhesive layers 26, 28 immediately adjacent one another, the width (W)of the release paper 36 needed to cover the adhesive layers 26, 28 isminimized, wherein the release paper 36 can be provided having a widththat is equal to, or substantially equal to the width of each adhesivelayer 26, 28 combined or added together (w1+w2).

In FIG. 5, a sleeve 110 formed in accordance with another aspect of theinvention is shown, wherein the same reference numerals, offset by afactor of 100, are used to identify like features. The sleeve 110 has awall 114 constructed in the same fashion as discussed above for the wall14. The notable difference is in how the wall is wrapped or folded inuse. As such, the wall has first and second adhesive layers 126, 128spaced from one another and extending along opposite edges 116, 118between opposite ends 122, 124. Also, a release paper, as discussedabove, is applied to the wrapped or folded wall 114 to releasably coverand protect the adhesive layers 126, 128 prior to use. With regard toboth walls 14, 114, it should be recognized that the overall width(extending between opposite edges 16, 18, 116, 118 and length (extendingbetween opposite ends 22, 24, 122, 124) of the wall 14, 114 can beformed as desired, depending on the end use of the respective sleeve 10,110.

In use, as shown in FIG. 6, rather than wrapping the wall 114 incigarette fashion about a single elongate member, the wall 114 iswrapped or folded in half about a T-shaped union 40 formed by anintersection of a plurality of elongate members, shown as a pair ofelongate members 112, 112′. The T-shaped union 40 is formed by a firstelongate member 112 extending generally horizontally and a secondelongate member 112′ extending generally transversely to the firstelongate member 112. During application, the elongate members 112, 112′are positioned as shown in FIG. 5, with the first horizontal elongatemember 112 extending across an approximate lengthwise dividingcenterline 42 of the wall 114 such that the first elongate member 112extends across the opposite adhesive layers 126, 128 in bonding relationtherewith. Meanwhile, the second elongate member 112′ extends verticallyalong an approximate widthwise dividing centerline 44 of the wall 114between the adhesive layers 126, 128, shown as being out of contact withthe adhesive layer 126, 128. Then, the upper half of the wall 114 isfolded over and about the first elongate member 112 to completely coverthe T-shaped union 40 and to bring the adhesive layers 126, 128 intoadhesive, fixed contact with themselves. Accordingly, each of the pairof adhesive layers 126, 128 is adapted to be adhered to a commonelongate member 112 and each of the pair of adhesive layers 126, 128 isalso adapted to be adhered to itself.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possiblein light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood thatthe invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described,and that the scope of the invention is defined by any ultimately allowedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of protecting at least a portion of atleast one elongate member, comprising: providing a flexible wall boundedby opposite edges and opposite ends, with a plurality of adhesive layersbonded to the wall in spaced relation from one another, with a singlerelease member being releasably adhered to at least a pair of theplurality of adhesive layers to releasably maintain the flexible wall ina tubular configuration; removing the single release member from thepair of adhesive layers; adhering at least one of the adhesive layers toat least one elongate member to be protected; wrapping the wall aboutthe portion of the at least one elongate member to be protected; andadhering at least one of the adhesive layers to at least one of an outerface of the wall and the at least one elongate member to fix the wall inits wrapped configuration about the portion of the at least one elongatemember to be protected.
 2. The method of claim 1 further includingadhering one of the pair of adhesive layers to a single elongate memberto be protected and then wrapping the wall about the elongate member andbringing the opposite edges into overlapping relation with one anotherand adhering the other of the pair of adhesive layers to an outer faceof the wall.
 3. The method of claim 1 further including providing the atleast one elongate member as a plurality of elongate members having agenerally T-shaped union and adhering a portion of at least one of theadhesive layers to one of the plurality of elongate members and thenwrapping the wall about the T-shaped union and adhering another portionof the at least one adhesive layer to itself.
 4. The method of claim 1further including providing the wall being formed from interlaced yarn.5. The method of claim 1 further including providing the wall beingformed from a nonwoven material.
 6. The method of claim 1 furtherincluding providing the wall having opposite inner and outer faces, withthe adhesive layers being bonded to the inner face.
 7. The method ofclaim 6 further including providing the adhesive layers being bondedadjacent the opposite edges.
 8. A method of protecting at least aportion of at least one elongate member, comprising: providing aflexible wall bounded by opposite edges and opposite ends, with aplurality of adhesive layers bonded to the flexible wall in spacedrelation from one another, with a single release member being releasablyadhered to at least a pair of the plurality of adhesive layers toreleasably maintain the flexible wall in a tubular configuration;removing the single release member from the pair of adhesive layers;adhering one of the pair of adhesive layers to at least one elongatemember to be protected; wrapping the flexible wall about the portion ofthe at least one elongate member to be protected; and adhering the otherof the pair of the adhesive layers to an outer face of the flexible wallto fix the flexible wall in its wrapped configuration about the portionof the at least one elongate member to be protected.
 9. The method ofclaim 8 further including providing the flexible wall being formed frominterlaced yarn.
 10. The method of claim 8 further including providingthe flexible wall being formed from a nonwoven material.
 11. The methodof claim 8 further including providing the pair of adhesive layers beingbonded to an inner face of the flexible wall.
 12. The method of claim 11further including providing one of the pair of adhesive layers beingbonded adjacent one of the opposite edges, and the other of the pair ofadhesive layers being bonded adjacent the other of the opposite edges.13. A method of protecting an elongate member, comprising: providing aflexible wall bounded by opposite edges and opposite ends, with aplurality of adhesive layers bonded to a first face of the flexible wallin spaced relation from one another, with a single release member beingreleasably adhered to the plurality of adhesive layers to releasablymaintain the flexible wall in a tubular configuration; removing thesingle release member from the plurality of adhesive layers; wrappingthe flexible wall about the elongate member; and adhering at least oneof the plurality of adhesive layers to a second face of the flexiblewall, opposite the first face, to fix the flexible wall in its wrappedconfiguration about the elongate member.
 14. The method of claim 13,further including providing the first face being an inner face of theflexible wall and the second face being an outer face of the flexiblewall, with the inner face being provided to engage the elongate memberupon wrapping the flexible wall about the elongate member.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further including providing one of the plurality ofadhesive layers being bonded adjacent one of the opposite edges of theflexible wall and providing another of the plurality of adhesive layersbeing bonded adjacent the other of the opposite edges of the flexiblewall.
 16. The method of claim 14, further including adhering at leastone of the plurality of adhesive layers to the elongate member prior towrapping the flexible wall about the elongate member.
 17. The method ofclaim 13 further including providing the flexible wall being formed frominterlaced yarn.
 18. The method of claim 13 further including providingthe flexible wall being formed from a nonwoven material.